LAHORE: A 25 member delegation of the Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) will visit Turkey for one week in October to explore new investment avenues by sharing their vision, expertise for the formulation of future policies, economic studies and project-specific reports in addition to promotional efforts.
The delegation will mainly visit “Inegol” to participate in Modef Fair Centre, a mega furniture exhibition being held from October 17, in which all kinds of modern and classic furniture products would be displayed.
The delegation will have an in-depth discussion with their counterparts in Turkey, said PFC chief executive Mian Kashif Ashfaq in a statement issued here on Saturday.The leading furniture outlets and factories, as well as workshops, will also be visited for equipping with latest trends and modern designs. The PFC is focusing on marketing activities in key foreign markets mainly United States, Japan, European Union, and the Gulf region.
A concerted action is being taken for holding exhibitions; promoting websites; organising international trade fairs and in-depth market analysis adding, said Ashfaq. “The PFC has invited foreign furniture buyers to the 3-day 9th mega “Interior Pakistan” furniture exhibitions in Pakistan starting from December 15 at Expo Centre, Lahore.”
The PFC chief executive added that participation in international shows should be deemed imperative for furniture exports. He accentuated that the establishment of joint ventures with Turkey for the provision of required machinery can encourage the quality of Pakistan’s furniture products and brings them at par with international standard.
“Therefore, there is a dire need to transform our furniture business from cottage or small scale to highly innovative industry, for which training of skilled labour and high-end supplies are required”, added Ashfaq.
FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED NARRATIVE, IT APPEARS THAT PAKISTAN FURNITURE COUNCIL IS PUBLIC SECTOR AGENCY WHERE 25 GOVT OFFICIALS VISITING TURKEY IN THE CONTEXT OF FURNITURE MANUFACTURING AND ITS INT. TRADE. THEN IT WILL BE UNNECESSARY BURDEN ON ALREADY AILING STATE EXCHEQUER. THIS IS THE JOB OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO ARE ALREADY IN THIS FIELD FOR SAY LAST TWO – FOUR DECADES. MOREOVER, PAKISTAN IS DEFICIENT IN RAW MATERIALS. PAKISTAN ARTIFICIAL /SYNTHETIC WOOD IS NOT OF INTERNATIONAL QUALITY AND NATURAL WOOD LIKE KIEL, ,DEODAR, AND OTHER SPECIES ARE SCARCE AND TOO COSTLY, NOT TO SPEAK OF CONVERTING THEM INTO SALEABLE FURNITURE PRODUCTS. PAK TURKEY FRIENDSHIP COSTING US TOO MUCH.